Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Lithotoma axillaris

Rock Isotome

Family CampanulaceaeGenus Lithotoma

A pale violet flower of six long narrow pointed petals spread like a star, its small center banded white and dark.
FlowerStan ShebsCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Flower
Blue, mauveWikipedia
Native range
New South Wales, Queensland, VictoriaGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Wikipedia — Wikipedia contributors; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Rock isotome, now Isotoma axillaris, carries blue or mauve star-shaped flowers from September to May in its native range, and is also called blue star and laurentia. Wikipedia: Isotoma axillaris

Two sources report 4 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 26, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on January 25, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 12 months from start to sowing. Then 70 days to germinate.

28% germination in 70 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Isotoma p. 40Public domain
Show the original text
Isotoma (Lamiaceae). I. axjllaris germ. 74-85% in 8-14 d in either 70D or 70L (1 st Suppl.). A prior 3 m at 40 is deleterious as shown by 40-70D(5%). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 24% in 2-5 w and seeds DS 2 y germ. 70D(28% in 1=10 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Isotoma p. 40. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

5% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Isotoma p. 40Public domain
Show the original text
Isotoma (Lamiaceae). I. axjllaris germ. 74-85% in 8-14 d in either 70D or 70L (1 st Suppl.). A prior 3 m at 40 is deleterious as shown by 40-70D(5%). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 24% in 2-5 w and seeds DS 2 y germ. 70D(28% in 1=10 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Isotoma p. 40. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 24, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 12 days to germinate.

85% germination in 8–12 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Isotoma p. 50Public domain
Show the original text
Isotoma (Lamiaceae). I. axillaris germ. 70L(85% in 8-12 d) and 70D(74% in 8-14 d). Germination was fewer and slower in 70 GA-3.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Isotoma p. 50. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

74% germination in 8–14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Isotoma p. 50Public domain
Show the original text
Isotoma (Lamiaceae). I. axillaris germ. 70L(85% in 8-12 d) and 70D(74% in 8-14 d). Germination was fewer and slower in 70 GA-3.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Isotoma p. 50. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

Add to My Garden

View species page